FixWindowsWindows 98

Windows 98: programs, drivers and common problems

On Windows 98, catch Windows protection errors and freezes using Safe Mode, ScanDisk and msconfig, and install drivers safely.

  • Updated
  • 15 min
  • Intermediate
Applies to
  • Windows 2000 and older

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Add and remove programs and drivers on Windows 98, and handle the usual problems: freezes, error messages at startup and a slow computer. The steps suit anyone keeping a Windows 98 PC working, usually offline.

Windows 98 no longer gets security updates

Microsoft ended support on July 11, 2006. Keep this computer off the internet where you can, and do not use it for banking or email. Scan any disc or drive on a modern computer before you use it here.

Before you start

Windows 98 has no System Restore, so copy important files to another disc or drive first. See how to back up your files. Windows 98 and Me share many tools, but System Restore exists only in Me.

Install a program

  1. Close other programs. Insert the program disc. Many discs start by themselves.
  2. If nothing happens, open My Computer, open the disc, and open setup or install.
  3. Follow the prompts. Restart if the program asks.

If a program stops working after install, remove it and any files it replaced, as described below.

Remove a program

  1. Open Start then Settings then Control Panel, then open Add/Remove Programs.
  2. On the Install/Uninstall tab, select the program and choose Add/Remove.
  3. Follow the prompts. See also how to uninstall programs.

Install a driver

Use drivers from the maker of the device or the computer, never from a driver updater or a download portal (see safe downloads and fake driver sites). Make sure the driver says Windows 98. Drivers for Windows 95 or XP may not work.

  1. Plug in the device, or open Start then Settings then Control Panel and open Add New Hardware.
  2. Follow the wizard. When it asks, point it to the maker's disc or driver folder.
  3. To check the result, open System in Control Panel and select the Device Manager tab. A yellow mark means a problem.

Fix problems

Windows 98 problems: fixes in orderA top-to-bottom flow chart with 6 boxes. Work through them in order and stop when the problem is fixed. The full text follows the picture.Windows 98 problems: fixes inorderNoNo1Restart the computer2Is the problem gone?Yes: You are done3Start in Safe Mode andundo the last change4Is the problem gone?Yes: You are done5Run ScanDisk andSystem File CheckerStill stuck? Restore theregistry backup or reinstall.
Begin with the least risky step. Stop when it works.
Text version of this diagram
  1. Step 1: Restart the computer
  2. Question 2: Is the problem gone? If yes: You are done. If no, go on to the next item.
  3. Step 3: Start in Safe Mode and undo the last change
  4. Question 4: Is the problem gone? If yes: You are done. If no, go on to the next item.
  5. Step 5: Run ScanDisk and System File Checker
  6. If nothing worked: Still stuck? Restore the registry backup or reinstall.

Start in Safe Mode

Safe Mode starts Windows with only basic drivers, so you can undo a change that stops it from starting.

  1. Restart the computer. As it starts, hold Ctrl or tap F8 until a menu of startup choices appears.
  2. Type the number shown beside Safe Mode and press Enter.
  3. Remove the program or driver you added last, then restart normally. The screen looks coarse in Safe Mode, which is normal.

Turn off startup programs

  1. Select Start, then Run, type msconfig and select OK. The System Configuration Utility opens. It is new in Windows 98.
  2. Select the Startup tab. Clear the tick beside programs you recognize and do not need. Leave anything you do not recognize ticked.
  3. Select OK and restart.

Check the disk and system files

  1. Open Start then Programs then Accessories then System Tools then ScanDisk, select your drive, and choose Start.
  2. Open Start then Programs then Accessories then System Tools then System Information, then choose Tools and System File Checker. It checks for changed system files and can replace them from the disc.
  3. Then open Disk Defragmenter from the same System Tools folder, if the drive is more than lightly used.

Common error messages

Common Windows 98 errors and what to try
MessageWhat it usually meansTry
Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer.A driver failed to load at startup, often after a changeSafe Mode, then undo the last driver or program change
This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut downOne program crashedRestart it, then reinstall it if it repeats
A fatal exception 0E has occurredA driver or faulty memory is a common causeSafe Mode, check recent changes, test the memory

These are common causes, not certainties. Several different faults produce the same message.

Restore the registry backup

Windows 98 saves a backup of the registry (its settings database) at normal starts. This can recover a PC that fails to start after a bad change.

  1. Restart the computer. Hold Ctrl or tap F8 to show the startup menu, then type the number beside Command prompt only and press Enter.
  2. Type this command and press Enter. It lists the available backups, from which you choose one dated before the problem. 
    scanreg /restore
  3. Follow the prompts, then restart.

Things to know about Windows 98

  • The original release (and Windows 95) can crash after 49.7 days of continuous running. Microsoft fixed this in Second Edition and with a patch. Restarting clears it.
  • Windows 98 was designed for up to 512 MB of memory. With more than about 1.5 GB, it may restart repeatedly. Remove extra memory.
  • Drive Converter changes a disk from FAT16 to FAT32 without erasing it, but it cannot be used with DriveSpace compression.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get updates for Windows 98?

No. Microsoft stopped releasing them when support ended on July 11, 2006.

Is Windows 98 safe online?

No. Use it offline. Nothing in this guide changes that.

Should I reinstall Windows 98?

Only after backing up everything, and only if Safe Mode and the registry backup do not help. See installing Windows 98.

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Official resources used

Pages consulted while preparing this guide. Check them for the latest details.

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